Despite the fact that the VAZ 2106 is far from a new car, many car owners are in no hurry to part with it. With this model you can realize the craziest ideas both in terms of appearance and interior. With enough funds, tuning can also affect the technical part, which will increase the dynamics and controllability of the car.
- What is tuning
- Photo of a tuned VAZ 2106
Photo gallery: tuning VAZ 2106
- Tuning the body of the VAZ 2106
- Video: how to tint the rear window on a “classic”
- VAZ 2106 suspension tuning
- Tuning the interior of the VAZ 2106
Changing the front panel
Video: reupholstering the front panel of a VAZ 2106
- Seats
- Cylinder block boring
Video: boring the engine block
- An exhaust manifold
Video: forward flow on a VAZ 2106
Tuning VAZ 2106
The VAZ 2106 car is not endowed with any outstanding characteristics or attractive appearance, and there is no need to talk about comfort. However, the model is fully suitable for fulfilling the most unusual desires of the owner. The machine allows you to experiment and for this it is not necessary to visit specialized services.
What is tuning
Tuning is a change in the factory characteristics of components and assemblies, as well as the appearance of the car in order to improve them. Depending on the goals pursued, tuning a VAZ 2106 may require quite large financial and technical costs: you can install attractive headlights, wheels or tinted windows, or it is possible that changes are made to the engine, gearbox, brake or exhaust system.
Photo of a tuned VAZ 2106
To better understand what tuning is, below are several pictures of the modernized “six”.
Photo gallery: tuning VAZ 2106
Body tuning opens up wide opportunities for making changes to the standard appearance of the car
Even minor changes to a standard car can make it more attractive
Tuning allows you to give your car an individual style and character.
One of the popular tuning trends is retro style
Tuning the body of the VAZ 2106
With external tuning, the car can be changed partially or completely. One of the main points in this case is the ideal condition of the body. If there are any defects or traces of rust on the body elements, they will need to be completely eliminated. Otherwise, over time the problem will manifest itself to a greater extent. Let's take a closer look at how you can modify the stock "six".
Windshield tinting
A fairly popular way of tuning a car, including the VAZ 2106, is tinting the headlights and windows. Many car owners tint their windshield themselves without visiting a car repair shop. Thanks to the film, you can change not only the appearance of your “iron horse”, but also make it safer. So, in the event of an accident, tinted glass will prevent damage from fragments. In summer, the film protects from the scorching sun. Before you start improving the appearance of your car, you need to understand this type of tuning in more detail.
First you need to learn about the types of tinting. In those days, when this method of darkening glass first began to appear, a special coating was used, which not only did not protect against scratches, but was also not suitable for restoration. At the moment, the following types of tinting exist:
- film;
- athermal;
- electronic;
- automatic.
To tint the windshield and other car windows with your own hands, it is best to choose the film method. Doing this type of tuning is not difficult, and if the need arises, you can replace the material at any time without any problems. To perform the work, you will need a certain list of materials and tools, consisting of a knife with blades, glass cleaner, clean water, shampoo, spray bottle and non-woven napkins.
The windshield can only be tinted in the upper part.
The room for tinting must be clean and protected from precipitation. The windshield, like any other, can be removed from the car or darkened directly on the vehicle. Regardless of the method chosen, it must be washed well and treated with a degreaser. You can tint the glass completely or just the upper part. If the goal is to protect your eyes from the sun, then the latter option is preferable. As a rule, with this method of darkening, the strip should be no more than 14 cm at its widest point.
It is also worth dwelling on such an important parameter as light transmittance: it is different for different films. In accordance with GOST, windshield tinting should not exceed 25%. It is also worth considering the fact that the glass itself can sometimes be slightly darkened (up to 5%). It is recommended to use film with a light transmittance of at least 80%. An important point: for tuning the windshield, you cannot use material that reflects light, glitters in the sun, or has a mirror surface. It is better to adhere to the indicated numbers in order to avoid possible problems with traffic police officers in the future.
The technology of applying film to glass consists of preparing the surface (thorough cleaning, dismantling the side trims, possibly the front panel, seal), after which they proceed directly to tinting. To completely darken the glass, you need to make sure that the film completely covers the entire glass. It is first moistened with a soap solution and the material is immediately applied, removing the protective layer. After removing the protective base about 5 cm, the tint is pressed against the glass, trying to expel air bubbles with a rag or a special spatula. If the windshield is completely darkened, work should begin from the center of the upper part. At the end of the process, excess film is cut off with a sharp knife or blade.
One of the most common ways to tint a windshield is with film.
Changing headlights
To give your “six” a beautiful look, you can’t do without tuning the headlights. You can modify the optics (headlights, taillights) in different ways: tinting, installing LED elements, xenon equipment. The fact is that headlights are one of the main elements that are memorable in the design of a car. If you want to make changes to the optics, but don’t have a lot of money, you can install inexpensive covers or reflectors, or replace standard light bulbs with halogen ones. In addition, there is a wide range of light colors available on the market. For more advanced headlights, not only financial investments will be required, but also changes to the body, due to a different mounting of the optics.
The modernized optics immediately catches the eye, so special attention is paid to tuning the headlights
Tail lights can be made more attractive by installing LEDs or LED boards instead of bulbs. If you have a soldering iron and minimal knowledge in electronics, you don’t have to spend money on buying such products, because you can do everything yourself. In addition, replacing standard lamps with LED elements will not only decorate the car, but also reduce energy consumption.
When tuning the lights, you can also tint them. There is no need to dismantle the lighting fixtures for this, but cleaning and degreasing are mandatory. To dim the lights, you will need to cut out the required piece of film and apply the material to the surface, similar to the windshield. Using a hairdryer, you can give the desired shape, and trim off the excess, leaving 2-3 mm at the edges, which are hidden in the gap between the lamp and the body.
Tinting and grille on the rear window
To tint the rear window on the “six”, it is recommended to remove it for ease of applying the film. Since the rear window on the sixth Zhiguli model is curved, it is better to apply the tint in 3 longitudinal stripes, having previously made a template, but you can do without it. Covering with film is carried out in the same way as when darkening the windshield. If in difficult places it is not possible to place the material on the surface, use a hair dryer, which makes the film more pliable. When gluing three strips, there is no need for heating. To make the joints unnoticeable, they are combined with glass heating lines. There should not be any nuances with the side windows: they are tinted in the same way.
Video: how to tint the rear window on a “classic”
One of the rear window tuning elements is a plastic grille, which is installed under the seal. The product gives the car a sporty and aggressive look. The essence of the installation is as follows:
- remove the glass lock;
- take out the glass itself;
- insert the lock;
- place the grate under the seal;
- insert the rope into the seal, coat the edges with silicone;
- install glass.
As a tuning element, you can install a grille on the rear window
When thinking about installing a grille, you need to know about the pros and cons of this accessory. The positive aspects include:
- cars moving behind are not so blinding with headlights at night;
- glass fogs up less in rainy weather;
- on hot days the interior does not heat up as much.
The disadvantages include:
- when snow sticks in winter, cleaning the glass will be quite problematic;
- Debris gets packed into the corners between the glass and the grille, which is also difficult to remove.
Roll cage
Those motorists who participate in competitions (rallies), that is, when there is a risk of overturning or deformation of the vehicle body, should think about installing a safety cage on their car. In simple terms, a safety cage is a structure made of steel pipes, assembled and secured in the car interior. This solution allows not only to preserve living space for the crew, but also to increase longitudinal rigidity. Depending on the complexity of the design, the price can vary quite widely - 1-10 thousand dollars.
If you have thoughts about installing a frame on a VAZ 2106, then you need to take into account that passing technical inspection with such a design will be quite difficult, since an appropriate certificate will be required. In addition, it is prohibited to operate a car with a safety cage in urban conditions. If the product is installed incorrectly, in the event of an accident it may simply collapse or become a kind of cage from which it will be difficult to get out. To install the frame, you will need to disassemble almost the entire interior of the car to securely fasten it.
The safety cage provides rigidity to the body. Install the structure on cars participating in automobile competitions
Retro tuning
Today, retro tuning of the VAZ 2106 is no less popular, the essence of which is to give the car its original appearance, that is, when the car just came off the assembly line. The fact is that many things that were once familiar to everyone and were not perceived as something unusual, today look quite stylish. The same applies to cars: nowadays, old cars look much more attractive and interesting than they used to be.
In order to achieve the desired result, the “six” will have to be restored. This process is quite long and painstaking. It will be necessary to carry out body work to restore and bring the appearance to ideal condition, which will be fully consistent with the time. Attention is also paid to the interior, for which purpose a new interior is sewn and decorative elements are restored. You need to understand that such work is not easy and not every company will undertake it. It is necessary to take into account a number of requirements of the time when the car was released, use the same materials and technologies.
Giving a car its original appearance, both outside and inside, is also considered tuning today.
However, to make retro tuning of a VAZ 2106 there is not always a need for a complete restoration. Sometimes it is enough to give the vehicle the style we imagine it to be in those years, but full compliance is simply not necessary. It all depends on the goals set, the wishes of the client, if the car is made to order. It is also possible that the exterior of the car is completely restored, but the chassis is replaced with a modern one, which will allow you to move quite confidently at a modern pace.
Interior reupholstery
The next stage is reupholstering the seats, as well as the ceiling, doors, gear lever, steering wheel and other parts. This procedure is quite complex and requires a competent selection of materials and their colors. But after its completion, the car interior will fully correspond to your taste preferences.
You don’t have to limit yourself to covering all the parts with faux leather or beautiful thick fabric. To improve the appearance, it makes sense to use additional decorative accessories, which include, for example, neon lamps, multi-colored LED lamps and much more.
VAZ 2106 suspension tuning
Having decided to radically improve your car, you should pay special attention to tuning the VAZ 2106 suspension. The suspension of the Zhiguli sixth model is absolutely not intended for dynamic driving due to its softness. You need to understand that tuning must be carried out comprehensively: replacing one part in the suspension or chassis will not give the desired result. So, if the owner of the “six” decided to replace the standard springs with sports ones, but at the same time ignored the installation of silent blocks and shock absorbers, then the work will be done in vain and the result will not be visible, and such actions cannot be called tuning.
Suspension tuning must be carried out comprehensively, i.e. levers, shock absorbers, springs must be replaced, and not one of the elements
Let's go over the main points of improving the suspension on the VAZ 2106. Many car owners begin work with a transverse brace, installing it between the strut cups, thereby increasing the rigidity of the body, which makes the car more controllable and maneuverable. The cross brace, installed at the front, is an extended metal structure in accordance with the make of the car. The product is installed to the upper studs of the shock absorbers. In addition, to reduce roll and give stability to your VAZ 2106, you will need to install a stabilization bar in the rear suspension. The installation procedure does not cause any difficulties, since the fastening is carried out on the standard bolts of the rear axle trailing rods. For ease of work, it is advisable to install the car on a pit or overpass.
The rear axle stabilizer bar helps reduce roll and make the car more stable.
The stabilizer, which is located at the front of the car, has a direct impact on handling. Therefore, it is also worth improving it. There is no need to completely replace the part with a finished and reinforced one if you are not going to participate in racing. You can get by with installing good quality rubber bushings. In general, in order to improve the suspension on a VAZ 2106, it will be enough to replace or improve the front strut, rear axle stabilizer, and install a stabilization bar. Such changes will increase safety and comfort.
Troika? Six!
In fact, by Soviet standards, there were plenty of changes in the car. The engine power increased slightly due to a change in volume, the electrical system was revised, the interior was slightly changed, the rear optics were replaced, plastic glasses appeared on the front grille on dual headlights - exactly like on a Fiat.
If you look at the car under a magnifying glass, you can find some more changes in the appearance of the six: the bumpers changed their profile and received rubber bumpers and plastic sidewalls, the background of the factory badge was later changed from cherry to black, the interior panels and the steering wheel trim received a strange pattern, probably talking about the luxury nature of the model.
In this form, the car was remembered for a long time as a luxury modification of the troika. The first VAZ 2106 was sold already in 1976, and the last six were released only in 2006.
Tuning the VAZ 2106 engine
The VAZ 2106 engine does not stand out for its dynamic performance, which leads owners to think about making certain changes. Engine tuning requires certain knowledge and skills, without which it is better not to try to change anything - you can not only make it worse, but also completely damage the power plant. Let's consider what actions can be taken to improve the performance of a standard 75 hp engine. With.
Cylinder block boring
As a result of boring the engine block on the VAZ 2106, it is possible to increase the power of the unit. The work is carried out using special equipment, which requires preliminary dismantling and disassembling of the engine. The boring process consists of removing a layer of metal from the inner walls of the cylinders. It is important to take into account the fact that the smaller the wall thickness remains, the shorter the service life of the engine. New pistons are installed in accordance with the new cylinder diameter. The maximum diameter to which the cylinders of a VAZ 2106 block can be bored is 82 mm.
Video: boring the engine block
Crankshaft modifications
If the goal is to increase the speed of the “six”, you should think about tuning the crankshaft, because torque is an important indicator of any power unit. Carrying out fundamental changes in the engine involves installing lightweight pistons, connecting rods, and reducing the weight of the crankshaft counterweights. You can simply install a lightweight shaft, but in addition, you will need to replace the flywheel with a lightweight one, since this particular part will reduce the moment of inertia. The crankshaft costs a lot of money, so many car owners leave this mechanism unchanged.
Installing a lightweight crankshaft and flywheel reduces the moment of inertia, which has a positive effect on dynamics
Carburetor tuning
Improving engine performance is impossible to imagine without making changes to a component such as a carburetor. The first thing you can do with the carburetor is to remove the spring from the vacuum drive. Thus, it will be possible to increase the dynamics of the car, but at the same time, fuel consumption will increase slightly. Regarding consumption, you need to understand that any changes made to the standard engine design and aimed at increasing power and dynamics will be inextricably linked with higher fuel consumption. In addition, the vacuum drive can be replaced with a mechanical one, which will also have a positive effect on the dynamics and smoothness of acceleration.
Tuning the “six” carburetor involves replacing the diffuser in the primary chamber from 3.5 to 4.5. To increase acceleration, the pump nozzle must be replaced from 30 to 40. With a more serious approach, it is possible to install several carburetors, which will require not only knowledge, but also large financial investments.
In the process of modernizing the carburetor, the diffuser in the primary chamber must be replaced from 3.5 to 4.5
Other engine modifications
Tuning the VAZ 2106 power unit opens up wide opportunities for those who like to improve their car, since, in addition to the engine, you can upgrade its systems: ignition, cooling, clutch. All actions are aimed at improving the operation of the unit, regardless of its operating conditions. So, as an example, consider an air filter. It would seem to be a rather simple element, but it can also be tuned by installing a “zero” resistance filter element. As a result of this modification, air supply to the cylinders is improved.
Seats and trim
The interior can be changed to be more comfortable and fashionable. The upholstery may wear out over time, in which case the fabric on the seats is changed to leather, velor, flock or suede.
The seats can be replaced with comfortable foreign ones.
Home tuning of a VAZ 2106 is no different from a salon one, the only thing is that you need to have a good understanding of the electrical system and the structure of the car.
Of course, with major tuning, you cannot do without salon service, where special equipment is available.
Tuning the exhaust system of VAZ 2106
They resort to tuning the exhaust system on the sixth model Zhiguli in order to increase power and obtain a beautiful sound. Almost every element of the system can be changed, or, more precisely, replaced with a different design.
An exhaust manifold
When tuning the exhaust system, the standard manifold is replaced with a “spider” type design. This name corresponds to the shape of the product. The collector can be long or short, and the difference lies in the connection diagram. In addition to replacing the exhaust element, you can improve the standard manifold by treating the internal surface. For these purposes, use a round file, which grinds off all protruding parts. If the intake manifold is easy to process (it is made of aluminum alloy), then you will have to work hard with the exhaust element, since it is made of cast iron.
When upgrading the exhaust system on a VAZ 2106, a tuned manifold is installed or the old one is modified
After rough processing of the inner surface, polishing of the exhaust channels begins. For these purposes, an electric drill and a metal cable are used, which is clamped in a chuck and lubricated with an abrasive substance. Then turn on the drill and polish the channels with translational movements. When finishing polishing, a coarse cloth coated with GOI paste is wound around the cable.
Downpipe
The exhaust pipe or trousers are attached on one side to the exhaust manifold, and the other to the resonator of the VAZ 2106 exhaust system. The need to replace this part arises when installing a direct flow, and the pipe must be of increased diameter, which ensures unhindered exit of exhaust gases.
Forward flow
One of the options for tuning the exhaust system is to install direct flow. As a result, owners of “sixes” receive not only an increase in power, but also a sporty sound. If the engine was boosted, i.e. the block was bored, a different camshaft was installed, the volume of exhaust gases increases, which should be taken into account when choosing direct flow. Structurally, a direct-flow muffler resembles a resonator, inside of which there is a special sound-absorbing material, for example, basalt wool. The service life of a modernized muffler depends on how long the sound insulation is in it.
To increase power and give an aggressive sound, when upgrading the exhaust system, install forward flow
To install forward flow on a VAZ 2106 you will need a welding machine and skills to handle it. Otherwise, you will need to contact a service center, where the work will be performed by experienced auto mechanics. It is important to understand that direct flow elements, as well as their installation, are not cheap.
Chassis
Finishing the chassis of the car is the main element of tuning the Soviet “classic cars”. As part of the improvement, the car's transmission, brake system, clutch, engine and suspension are improved.
After making changes, the behavior of the car on the road changes, which can lead to an accident.
Transmission
When tuning a six, the standard gearbox is converted into a sports one. For these purposes, gear ratios are changed. The upgraded gearbox will receive longer low gears and shorter high gears. The number of gear ratios is selected individually. It depends on the manner and style of driving.
